gcvmom
Here we go again!
because between his dad and I, we were ready to strangle him a few hours ago!
He and difficult child 2 were in the kitchen -- difficult child 2's cutting a bagel to eat before bed, and he's in there looking for a snack, too. So the fact that they were both hungry was strike #1.
difficult child 2 accidentally loses the bagel and it lands in the soapy dishwater. So he starts to stuff it down the disposal (can't say I blame him -- who'd want to eat a soggy, soapy bagel?) Strike #2.
difficult child 1 immediately starts scolding him for "wasting food" and smacks him in the head. Strike #3
difficult child 2 still has the bread knife in his hand, raises it and tells difficult child 1 not to touch him again or he'll kill him. Game Over.
difficult child 1 grabs difficult child 2's hand and squeezes hard to get him to drop the knife, while kneeing him hard in the thigh. difficult child 2 goes down on the floor and is crying and holding his leg as I come in from the garage where I was happily folding laundry until my reverie was broken by the sound of screaming and snarling and the brotherly brawl that was taking place in the kitchen.
I managed to get the above story after reading them both the riot act, then questioning them separately, then together, and then separately again. They got sent to their rooms while I fumed and went upstairs to consult husband on what to do about it.
His solution? They had to go out to the yard and run sprints until husband decided they could stop (about 10 minutes). Then he had them do pushups, situps, and then more sprints. Then more situps and pushups. Then a few more sprints. Then they got a lecture.
Then they were asked if they had anything to say for themselves. After they both acknowledged their part in the melee (difficult child 1 for provoking his brother in the first place and battering him, difficult child 2 for the assault with the knife), they were sent to bed (and still hungry, no less).
I am finding it very hard to summon up the enthusiasm I had for difficult child 1's birthday now, as I'm sure you all can appreciate.
He and difficult child 2 were in the kitchen -- difficult child 2's cutting a bagel to eat before bed, and he's in there looking for a snack, too. So the fact that they were both hungry was strike #1.
difficult child 2 accidentally loses the bagel and it lands in the soapy dishwater. So he starts to stuff it down the disposal (can't say I blame him -- who'd want to eat a soggy, soapy bagel?) Strike #2.
difficult child 1 immediately starts scolding him for "wasting food" and smacks him in the head. Strike #3
difficult child 2 still has the bread knife in his hand, raises it and tells difficult child 1 not to touch him again or he'll kill him. Game Over.
difficult child 1 grabs difficult child 2's hand and squeezes hard to get him to drop the knife, while kneeing him hard in the thigh. difficult child 2 goes down on the floor and is crying and holding his leg as I come in from the garage where I was happily folding laundry until my reverie was broken by the sound of screaming and snarling and the brotherly brawl that was taking place in the kitchen.
I managed to get the above story after reading them both the riot act, then questioning them separately, then together, and then separately again. They got sent to their rooms while I fumed and went upstairs to consult husband on what to do about it.
His solution? They had to go out to the yard and run sprints until husband decided they could stop (about 10 minutes). Then he had them do pushups, situps, and then more sprints. Then more situps and pushups. Then a few more sprints. Then they got a lecture.
Then they were asked if they had anything to say for themselves. After they both acknowledged their part in the melee (difficult child 1 for provoking his brother in the first place and battering him, difficult child 2 for the assault with the knife), they were sent to bed (and still hungry, no less).I am finding it very hard to summon up the enthusiasm I had for difficult child 1's birthday now, as I'm sure you all can appreciate.
It's so nice that you all understand what life is like with kids like these... most others I know would just shake their heads and look incredulous.
